Title 42 › CHAPTER 7 — SOCIAL SECURITY › SUBCHAPTER XVIII — HEALTH INSURANCE FOR AGED AND DISABLED › Part D — Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program › subpart 5 — definitions and miscellaneous provisions › § 1395w–153
To be covered by Medicare Part D, a drug maker must join the right discount programs and sign the required agreements with the Secretary. For drugs given out from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2024, the maker must take part in the Medicare coverage gap discount program, have the agreement described in subsection (b) of section 1395w–114a, and have a contract with a third party chosen by the Secretary under subsection (d)(3) of section 1395w–114a. For drugs given out on or after January 1, 2025, the maker must take part in the manufacturer discount program and have the agreement described in subsection (b) of section 1395w–114c. The Secretary can allow coverage even if these steps were not met when the drug is essential to beneficiaries’ health or when there were extenuating circumstances from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011. The “essential” exception does not apply for any period described in section 5000D(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Manufacturer is defined in section 1395w–114a(g)(5).
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The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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Citation
42 U.S.C. § 1395w–153
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110